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Types of Learning Disorders

by | Jul 23, 2024 | Info | 0 comments

Learning Disorders Overview

Learning disorders can make it difficult to perform at school or work, but the right diagnosis and support can make a big difference.

The National Center for Learning Disabilities estimates that 1 in 5 children in the United States have a learning disability of some kind.

In a clinical context, learning disabilities fall into the category of neurodevelopmental disorders. Other terms used for these conditions include learning disorder, learning difference, or learning difficulty.

Healthcare professionals typically use the term “specific learning disorder” to refer to a diagnosed learning disorder. This term comes from the fifth edition of the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).”

A specific learning disorder can affect a child’s ability to learn basic academic skills such as reading, writing, and math.

The condition can affect adults, too, particularly when they go undiagnosed in childhood. But you can do a lot to support your child — or yourself — and learn to navigate a learning disorder.

Types of Learning Disorders

Following are types of learning  disorders:

  • Dyslexia: Involves difficulty reading
  • Dyscalculia: This type involves difficulty with numbers
  • Dysgraphia: Involves difficulty writing and spelling

But the DSM-5 doesn’t separate learning disorders into these categories. Instead, it has one diagnosis, specific learning disorder, that involve three different subtypes:

  • Specific learning disorder with impairment in reading
  • This subtype involves specific learning disorder with impairment in writing
  • Specific learning disorder with impairment in mathematics

Though symptoms of a learning disorder may appear as early as preschool, experts typically won’t diagnose a learning disorder before grade school.

That’s because a learning disorder diagnosis requires some exposure to education, so experts can confirm the symptoms and rule out other conditions.

Specific learning disorder with impairment in reading

This condition is referred to as dyslexia.

Such a specific type of learning disorder can make it challenging to:

  • Associate letters with their sounds
  • Identify letters correctly
  • Read fluently
  • Spell correctly
  • Understand what you read

Individuals with learning disability may:

  • Misspell words frequently, even after practice
  • Find it difficult to match letters to sounds
  • Have trouble understanding reading
  • Mispronounce common words
  • Have trouble distinguishing between letters that look similar (such as “b” and “d”)
  • Misunderstand wordplay
  • Have a hard time recognizing spelling errors

According to the International Dyslexia Association, roughly 15 to 20% of people have symptoms of this learning disorder.

Specific learning disorder with impairment in writing

This condition is also known as dysgraphia.

This type of learning disorder affects your ability to write correctly, both by hand and when you type. In some cases, the symptoms can resemble motor skill challenges, though it’s possible to experience both.

They may have difficulty:

  • Forming letters correctly
  • Spelling accurately
  • Following grammar and punctuation rules
  • Expressing yourself clearly through written words
  • Holding writing tools
  • Spacing words and letters consistently
  • Writing neatly

They may also:

  • Have unusual, difficult-to-read, or distorted handwriting
  • Tend to skip letters when writing
  • Have difficulty with fine motor skills when doing other tasks such as using eating utensils or sewing

Specific learning disorder with impairment in mathematics

This learning disorder, sometimes referred to as dyscalculia, affects your ability to understand numbers and do math-related tasks.

The first symptom is usually difficulty with counting. Children with this learning disorder often start counting later than their peers. However, not every child who begins counting late has this condition.

Young children may find it challenging to:

  • Recognize patterns
  • Learn to count
  • Recognize numbers
  • Tell time 
  • Understand math signs such as plus and minus signs

Older children and adults may have a hard time with:

  • Interpreting charts or graphs
  • Understanding basic math facts
  • Spatial awareness
  • Understanding concepts in math

This learning disorder can also affect everyday situations. For example, you might have trouble with:

  • Adding up how much the items in your shopping basket cost
  • Counting your change after making a purchase
  • Following cardinal directions such as north or south
  • Recognizing the actual distance between two things such as cars on the road or a person in the distance

 

Other conditions that may affect learning

Other neurodevelopmental conditions that can also affect learning include:

  • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): This mental health condition is characterized by high impulsivity, hyperactivity, or both.
  • Developmental coordination disorder (dyspraxia): This motor disorder can affect your motor skills, ability to plan, and coordination.
  • Auditory processing disorder: If you have this condition, your brain has difficulty processing the sounds you hear.

These conditions don’t fall into the category of specific learning disorders, but their signs can sometimes resemble the signs of learning disorders.

What’s more, you can also have any of these conditions as well as a learning disorder. In fact, many people with ADHD also have a specific learning disorder.

Causes of Learning Disorders

Although experts don’t fully understand what causes learning disorders, they’ve linked these conditions to differences in brain structure and function.

For example, evidence suggests dyslexia happens because of differences in the parts of the brain that affect reading.

Factors that may play a part in these brain differences include:

  • Alcohol use during pregnancy: Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, which are caused by alcohol use during pregnancy, may contribute to learning disabilities.
  • Brain trauma: Some evidence suggests traumatic brain injuries may affect brain processing speed, which can play a part in learning difficulties.
  • Genetics: Learning disorders often run in families, so you may have a higher chance of developing them if a parent or sibling has the same condition.

Learning disorders can have a far-reaching impact

Beyond directly affecting reading, writing, and mathematical skills, specific learning disorders can make school and work frustrating, especially when they go unrecognized and untreated.

Kids who have these conditions might internalize the idea that they’re lazy or not trying hard enough. They might experience teasing from peers or criticism from teachers or parents, all of which can have a negative impact on self-esteem and emotional health.

Individuals with learning disorders may also:

  • Feel lonely and have difficulty fitting in with their peers
  • Have a negative self-image
  • Grow to dislike school or work and feel less motivated to make an effort
  • Have difficulties with planning and organizing, which could affect relationships with peers and adults

However, getting the right support can go a long way toward minimizing these effects.

Support

Accommodations and emotional support from teachers, parents, and friends can help people with learning disorders thrive at school, work, and in their relationships, and improve overall well-being.

According to one 2019 study, teenagers who received educational treatments for learning disabilities had higher self-esteem and felt less lonely than those who didn’t receive this support.

Monitoring Programs

Another 2019 study found that mentoring programs appeared to help reduce depression and boost self-esteem in youth with attention deficit disorder (ADHD) and learning disabilities.

 

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